Is Geographical Mobility Beneficial? The Impact of the South-to-North Internal Migration on Occupational Achievement in Italy

Abstract Geographical mobility plays a crucial role in shaping demographic and social change, yet few studies have examined its impact on occupational success and the transmission of social inequality across generations. This study aims to investigate the effect of internal migration on occupational status in Italy, exploring whether men and women experience a benefit or disadvantage from South-to-North migration, and if this effect is influenced by family status and social class of origin. The research is based on the Italian Household Longitudinal Survey and utilizes a set of fixed effects linear regression panel models combined with Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM). Results show that only men benefit from migration, while women experience a disadvantage, which increases when they move after union formation and the transition to parenthood. Furthermore, the impact of geographical mobility on occupational status varies based on social class of origin only for men, with those from higher classes experiencing a much greater migration benefit than those from medium and lower classes. These findings demonstrate that geographical mobility serves as an additional source of advantage for individuals from higher social classes. The positive effect on male occupational success compounds with family-related benefits, further widening social disparities between individuals in different social strata.